Vietnam : With tourism rebounding post-COVID, industry experts affirm Vietnam’s rising popularity as a favored Asian destination for travelers.
Halong Bay is one of Vietnam’s top tourist draws
Vietnam has swiftly emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s top destinations, capturing tourists’ hearts with its diverse landscapes, stunning beaches, and vibrant cities. According to Google Destination Insights, it ranked seventh among the most searched destinations from March to June, standing out as the sole Southeast Asian country in the top 20.
The surging popularity of Vietnam is evident in its increasing international arrivals. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism reported that the country welcomed over 5.5 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2023, surpassing the total arrivals for the entire year of 2022.
Vietnam set to experience further tourist growth.
Vietnam’s tourist sector initially targeted 8 million visitors for the rest of 2023, but the tourism bureau now foresees the numbers surging to 10 million. Bobby Nguyen, chairman of Rustic Hospitality Group, attributes this growth to Chinese, Indian, and Korean tourists. He emphasized the role of social media and influential travel groups in bolstering Vietnam’s international appeal, citing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Google promotion channels as crucial in showcasing Vietnam to the world.
Vietnam’s improved visa policy expected to boost tourism
Effective August 15, Hanoi has greenlit a revised visa policy for international travelers, extending visa waivers for selected countries from 15 to 45 days, and granting visitors from eligible nations the option of single or multiple entry electronic visas, valid for up to 90 days.
The travel industry in Vietnam anticipates a promising future.
The new visa policy and the potential increase in international arrivals have sparked excitement among travel companies in Vietnam.
Max Lambert, owner of Fuse Hostels & Travel, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.” His company, which launched two hostels in Hoi An recently, is already operating at levels close to what they were before the pandemic. He noted, “We’re seeing, in the last three months, a substantial uptick in the number of international guests staying in hostels,” with bookings now back to 2019 levels.
Lambert is optimistic about the industry’s recovery, stating, “I think the hangover from the COVID pandemic, for our end of the market, is pretty much over.”
Vietnam’s tourist sector initially targeted 8 million visitors for the rest of 2023, but the tourism bureau now foresees the numbers surging to 10 million. Bobby Nguyen, chairman of Rustic Hospitality Group, attributes this growth to Chinese, Indian, and Korean tourists. He emphasized the role of social media and influential travel groups in bolstering Vietnam’s international appeal, citing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Google promotion channels as crucial in showcasing Vietnam to the world.
